Tampa Bay @ Boston preview
Fenway Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2013 ) Tampa Bay 1, Boston 5
With a return to Fenway Park and a visit from a team that they have handled with ease this season, the Boston Red Sox hope to get back on track when they host the Tampa Bay Rays for a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. The Red Sox saw their lead in the American League East trimmed to 1 1/2 games after dropping three of four at Baltimore over the weekend, but they've won seven of the nine meetings with Tampa Bay this season.
The Rays have lost four of five to fall five games back of Boston, and their offense has been the culprit recently. Tampa Bay has scored a total of 12 runs in its past five contests. The Red Sox hope to have first baseman Mike Napoli back in the lineup Tuesday after missing the past two games because of dizziness and nausea.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 8.03 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (4-3, 4.91 ERA)
Odorizzi will be added to the roster using the new rule allowing teams to add a 26th man for a doubleheader. A prized prospect acquired in the offseason deal that sent James Shields to Kansas City, Odorizzi has made two starts and one long relief appearance in the majors this year. He has never pitched against the Red Sox.
Doubront had a streak of four straight quality starts snapped in his last outing, as he allowed four runs - three earned - in 4 2/3 innings at Baltimore. Doubront is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts and three relief appearances against Tampa Bay. He allowed two runs over five-plus innings in his only start against the Rays this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox INF Jose Iglesias enters the doubleheader riding a 17-game hitting streak, one shy of the longest in the American League this season set by Alex Rios of the Chicago White Sox.
2. Tampa Bay enters the doubleheader having hit .141 with runners in scoring position in nine games against Boston - including .092 in those situations in seven losses to the Red Sox.
3. Rays OF Matt Joyce is batting .387 with four homers during an eight-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Red Sox 5, Rays 3